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ISU promises changes in ice dance judging
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP-CP) -- Responding to complaints about the judging at the Nagano Olympics, the head of the International Skating Union said today he would propose rule changes to improve the scoring in ice dancing.ISU president Ottavio Cinquanta said the federation has received "comments, questions and also criticism" from skaters and fans about the judging in Nagano.
Much of the debate was prompted by the judges' view of the Riverdance routine by Canadian champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz.
Cinquanta again refuted allegations of bloc judging or favoritism, but acknowledged flaws in ice dancing.
"Regretfully, in ice dance, the problem of 'stable' results still exists," Cinquanta said in a statement. "I believe that the remedy for this problem is to introduce changes in the rules, thereby giving the skaters and the judges more specific references."
He also mentioned introducing "technical adjustments" to the scoring system.
Cinquanta said he believed rule changes were the answer, rather than "exaggerated criticism of the judges."
Compulsory dances now count 20 per cent of the total, original dance 30 per cent, and free dance 50 per cent.
Cinquanta said he would make his proposals to the ISU Congress in Stockholm in June. The congress could make the free dance worth a higher percentage of a couple's total score, to increase the chance that the final night will provide some real drama.